After being filmed flirting with the wives and girlfriends of England's cricketers, Sir Allen Stanford has apologised for his behaviour. The billionaire backer of the Stanford Super Series was caught on camera on the England player's balcony with his arm around two women, including Alastair Cook's girlfriend Alice Hunt, while he bounced Matt Prior's pregnant wife, Emma, on his knee.

"He understood that the players were not particularly pleased with the incident," said a Stanford spokesman. "He called both Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior personally and they have accepted his apology."

The England players were in the field playing a warm-up match against Middlesex at the time and were surprised when the ground's television screens broadcast the live pictures of Stanford on their balcony. Prior, in particular, looked particularly upset.

"When the pictures came up on the big screen there were a lot of gobsmacked people in our side. Matt Prior was in a state of shock, especially as his wife is pregnant," confirmed Stuart Broad, who was bowling at the time.

As the competition's bankroller, Stanford is afforded unprecedented access to the players' dressing rooms, normally an area off-limits to anyone but those closely involved in the team.

Stanford will host a dinner for the England players tomorrow night but an England spokesman insisted there will be no problem between the players and the billionaire. "As far as we are concerned, the matter is now closed," he said.